List of Services.

What we edit.

This list is not exhaustive. Ask us about your project.

Editing Service
Price (US cents per word)**
Copy editing Only with other editing
Editing 2.5 cents
Developmental Combo 4.0 cents
Heavy editing 5.0 cents
Fact checking 1.0 cents
Ghostwriting 10.0 cents
Translation - French to English 10.0 cents
Writer's Aid Package 0.85 cents
Puzzle Design/Creation...... Contact us
**minimum charge $20. Last time we checked (September 2018), 10 cents was a little under 8p.
 
MAINSTREAM FICTION
THRILLER, SUSPENSE & MYSTERY
YOUNG ADULT
ROMANCE
HISTORICAL
SCIENCE FICTION
FANTASY
HORROR
 

About our services.

Editing

Copy editing, a.k.a. proofreading. We’ll go through the manuscript carefully, and correct literal errors – spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, and jargon. If there are any house style guidelines at that level which you need to adhere to, we’ll take that into account. We’ll also format the manuscript to current standards. Copy editing is generally the last stage before a manuscript is finalized.

Editing. Also referred to as ‘line editing’, this addresses issues at the paragraph level, rather than checking for typos. We’ll go through your manuscript fixing inconsistencies and problems with viewpoint, sentence structure, clarity, tone, dialogue rhythm and word selection. As a bonus, we’ll keep an eye on plot coherency, characterization, structure, and style, and flag up problems we find. 

The developmental combo. This package starts with a substantive edit. Your editor will go through your manuscript, flagging specific problems such as structural and plot issues, clumsiness in plot or theme, weaknesses in character, dialogue or description, stylistic errors, and so on. Wherever possible, we’ll make suggestions on how to fix these things. You then take these notes and work with them to fix the manuscript. Afterwards, we’ll give the manuscript a light edit to tidy up remaining superficial issues. This is a good option if you don't want your work rewritten. The developmental stage is similar to mentoring, but the mentoring process typically takes place chapter by chapter and over multiple rounds, offering the writer a stronger opportunity for one-on-one tutoring. The goal of mentoring is to make you a better writer at the same time as your manuscript is being polished.

Heavy editing. If your manuscript needs serious substantive work, but you don’t have the time or patience for mentoring or the developmental combo, then the biggest gun in our arsenal is heavy editing. During a heavy edit, we’ll fix plot holes, weak characters, redundant scenes, exposition, passive writing, issues of theme or style, poor pacing, and anything else we come across. This typically involves significant amounts of rewriting, so if you feel protective of your words, you’re better off with either mentoring or the developmental combo. 

Support Services

Fact checking. This is where we go through your manuscript and make sure that the real-world information that it contains is accurate. If it’s wrong, we’ll fix it. We’ll ignore grammar, spelling, and typos though. 

Ghostwriting. We can also provide ghostwriting services. You give us an idea – a concept, a full-blown synopsis, or anything in between – and we write it for you. A legal contract guarantees our silence on the matter, and that we have no further claim on you or the manuscript, even if you become the next JK Rowling. Ghostwriting is currently charged at a reduced rate of 15c a word, and we're genuinely sorry, but we're simply not able to work in return for a royalty. 

Writer's aid pack. We will provide all the materials you need to query agents and publishers. The Writer’s Aid Pack includes a compelling query letter, several different lengths of synopsis, a log line, competitor comparisons, and information on how to appeal to agents or publishers. 

Puzzle design and creation. Tim Dedopulos has written many puzzle books, including for MENSA, and can produce a very wide range of puzzles, from old favorites to totally new creations. It’s impossible to give a standard price for this; drop him a query, via the contact page.

Other Services

Book covers. We're not qualified to produce good book covers ourselves, but we do know some rather lovely and wildly talented people, so if you're stuck for someone, drop us a line and we'll point you in the right direction.

Payment terms & conditions.

We agree on a service with you. You pay us. We do the work and send it back to you. We like using PayPal – it can handle both direct transfer and card payments – but other options are possible; get in touch. We can often work on a chapter by chapter basis for most services, which spreads the cost out for you.

We work in Microsoft Word. We can convert electronic documents to and from other formats but you need to bear in mind that some change-tracking may be lost. If you absolutely need us to work from printed paper, there’s a 5c a word surcharge, and developmental editing, heavy editing, mentoring, ghostwriting and formatting are excluded. Think about the trees!

We can’t guarantee to take on every project. If we don’t feel that we can do your manuscript proper justice, we’ll let you know, and try to point you toward someone better-suited.

Completely lost? Do not fear.

If in doubt of what service you require, upload your manuscript on the contact page and we'll give you an obligation-free analysis.